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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 others sustained injuries in an apparently intentional gas explosion at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the house near Verona to enforce an eviction order for a brother and sister trio who were older adults.

All three victims who died were members of the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals got detained at the scene and one more individual who fled after the blast was located soon after. All three have been transported to hospital.

The detonation could be heard approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the scene displayed the building turned into a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to evict the three family members in the earlier times.

Background and Motive

The head of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, explained the property was facing an court order due to debts accrued by the three owners.

Negotiators had been assigned to engage the siblings who had secured themselves into the property. When the police reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe a family member triggered the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” provincial police commander Commander Papagno told reporters.

“A gas cylinder had been set off, and the blast immediately struck our personnel,” he added.

Incendiary devices were also discovered at the property, the interior minister confirmed.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the explosion comprised an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as three members of national police and a firefighter.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the building was in a poor condition and had was without power.

He was convinced the blast had taken place on a floor above the entrance and informed journalists it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the blast, he revealed members had “detected a whistling noise, probably the propane tanks being activated”.

Local Response

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors told reporters, adding that the three had previously threatened to “detonate the property” rather than vacate the property.

“The explosion had left a ‘terrible, very painful and dramatic toll’.”

Minister of Defence Minister Crosetto united with other elected representatives in commemorating the trio of personnel who had lost their lives in the service of their country.